Day 1 – From Entebbe to Kampala along Lake Victoria On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda you will recognize our representative by DJ dress code for a welcome drink. Drive for an overnight stay at the Emin Pasha Hotel in Kampala, the place of heaven. BB Emin Pasha Hotel ***** Located right near the city centre, the hotel is set in two acres of peaceful park-like tropical gardens. Big mature trees, flowering shrubs and scented vines abound. Admire the African and Swahili style of the private cottages and the ambience of the old age as you are received by the personnel in typical traditional costumes. Take your time and go for massage or enjoy a cold drink from the gardens’ bar. Day 2 – The magic of the source of River Nile Relax from the verandah of the Emin Pasha as you enjoy a royal breakfast. The guide will give you a short briefing before leaving eastward to the legendary source of river Nile, which is found in Uganda. You traverse sugar cane, tea plantations and the Mabira Forest before entering the town of Jinja. This name means “rock” in the local language. Check in at The Haven Lodge with its stunning view on a cliff overlooking river Nile. Have lunch. In the afternoon you might just lay and relax from the private beach on the Nile. Take time and visit the most famous rapids of Bujagali, where you fully breathe the magic of the river. Moreover, the guide will drive you downstream directly to the real source, where you can explore in a private boat how the water of Lake Victoria gives birth to the Nile. Retreat to your lodge and enjoy the charm of your honeymoon special cottage. A candle light dinner will be served privately from your verandah. Listen to the sounds of the river and surrounding nature. Good night, at The Haven Lodge. Full Board NOTE: If you love adventure and water sports, if you wish to experience the wild beauty of the River Nile, you can choose going for white water rafting. For this option, you are requested to leave Kampala very early in the morning at 7.30 and you will spend most of the day in the water. The Haven Lodge **** The Haven is a peaceful and relaxed river lodge, a perfect hideaway, located at a big rapid on the river. The African stile cottages are surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens overlooking the river. The lodge has its private beach area and boat. Day 3 - Kibale National Park – Kasenda Crater Lakes Have a “Nile” breakfast and your journey proceeds to the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon, the Rwenzori, in the Western side of the country. Lunch en route. Arrive in Fort Portal, the capital town of the Tooro kingdom. This area is characterized by colored gardens, evergreen tea and banana plantations, picture perfect crater lakes like Lake Saka and idyllic streams. The Mountains of the Moon Hotel is an oasis of peace overlooking the Rwenzori. This will be your pit stop for the night. Full Board. Mountains of the Moon Hotel **** The hotel is located in a calm and tranquil atmosphere of gardens with view of Rwenzori Mountains. Amenities include a well designed wellness centre and swimming pool, restaurants featuring fusion cuisine and an exclusive bar offering only world class wines and award winning beers. Day 4 – Kibale Forest - Queen Elizabeth National Park In the early morning the suggested activity for the day is the experience of the rain tropical forest as you walk in search of the troops of chimpanzees and other species of primates. From Fort Portal travel a short distance to Kibale Forest National Park. This is one of the most accessible of the remaining rain forests in Uganda. With almost 770 sq km of protected area, Kibale is home to a remarkable thirteen species of primates, including black and white colobus, red colobus, red tailed monkey, vervet monkey, Hoest monkey, grey checked mangabeys, baboons, the nocturnal bush babies. A network of shady forest trails provides much to delight botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with 335 species recorded including the endemic Prirogrine's ground thrush. Have lunch in the forest. Proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon. The road is fantastic as it traverses the region of the crater lakes Kasenda, clusters of craters lakes scattered all over the valley down the Rwenzoris. You have the first photographic game safari as you enter the national park. The Katara Lodge is set in a prominent location on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley escarpment, overlooking the open savannah and Maramagambo forest of Queen Elizabeth. Full Board. Katara lodge **** Katara is one of the most charming and characteristic lodges in Uganda. Katara means “lamps” and you will be captivated by the atmosphere. Day 5 – Queen Elizabeth National Park From open savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world. Almost 100 mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species makes this superb safari territory, with elephant, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog and handsome Uganda kob all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula - which also boasts a marvelous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. You will have a morning game drive in this majestic park, have a tea and coffee break in the crater lakes area and lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon have an exciting excursion by boat from Mweya peninsula along Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife, bird life and opportunities for good photographs. Dinner and overnight stay at Katara Lodge. Full Board. Day 6 – Ishasha - Bwindi Forest National Park After a savannah breakfast you will leave the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth and head southwards, where you find the rain tropical forests which are the natural habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas. You will pass through the remote Ishasha Sector of the park, the natural migration corridor between Uganda and Congo. The concentration of game animals is high, especially the elephants, the antelope topi, buffalo. However, the area is known for the frequency of sighting the so called tree climbing lions, peacefully relaxing over the figs trees. Pic nic lunch will be arranged in the savannah. You will be by evening in Bwindi National Park for dinner and an overnight stay at Silverback Lodge. Full Board. Silver Back Lodge **** Silver Back Lodge is a small and cozy lodge perched on high, atop the valley overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.Built using forest vines, sisal rope and purple slate stone the forest is brought right inside your room. Day 7- Mountain gorilla safari Experience a rejuvenating morning in the rain tropical forest of Bwindi for a gorilla safari. This is a guided group activity which starts at 8am with each group comprising a maximum of 8 people. A magnificent verdant swathe across the steep ridges of the Albertine Rift Valley, this ancient rainforest, less than 350 sq km remaining - one of the few in Africa to have flourished throughout the last Ice Age - is home to roughly half of the world's mountain gorillas. Looking deep into the expressive brown eyes of these gentle giants is surely the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter that Africa has to offer - but you should not let it distract from Bwindi's broader biodiversity, a result of its immense antiquity and an altitude span from 1,160 to 2,607m. The national park has 11 primates’ species, of which the black-and-white colobus, with its lovely flowing white tail, is prominent. The forest birding ranks with the best in Uganda, with 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemics present. Ensure you take the packed lunch and water with you in the bag and for this you might need the support of available porters. Dinner and an overnight stay at Silverback Lodge. Full Board. Day 8 – Lake Bunyonyi After breakfast, proceed to Lake Bunyonyi, wonderful scenery, and board the boat through the lake up to Habuharo Island at Heritage Lodge. Relax and have lunch. In the afternoon enjoy one of the most extraordinary wildlife and birding experience by boat. The forested green islands on the lake are home to different species of endemic birds which the guide will help you to spot. Have Lunch and in the afternoon have time to relax at your lodge. Dinner and overnight at Heritage Lodge in Ha’Buharo Island - “Island of Bird song” is located on Lake Bunyonyi. Full Board Heritage Lodge Ha’buharo Located on the tranquil waters of Lake Bunyonyi, the lodge has well-spaced, self-contained tents and cottages, all furnished with comfortable beds located in wooded seclusion overlooking the lake. Day 9 – Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Parks After breakfast, drive through the Kigezi highlands of South Western Uganda, the “Switzerland of Africa” characterized by the terraced cultivated hills. The inhabitants are the Bakiga. Lunch enroute and thereafter proceed to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest of Ugandan National Parks. As you enter, go for game drive in search of the beautiful impalas, the big elands, topi and many antelopes, buffaloes, zebras. Dinner and overnight at the rustic Mihingo Lodge. Full Board Mihingo Lodge ***** Without any doubt one of the most alluring and high quality lodges in the country, Mihingo is perched on a hill with broad views from its stylish thatched public areas. The 6 guests rooms take the form of luxury tents under thatch and with private bathrooms. A wide arrange of activities include day and night vehicle safari, boating, walking, birding and cultural visits. Horseback safari is a specialty, from novice upwards. Day 10 – Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe International Airport Have your final jungle breakfast embarking on a farewell game drive as you leave the park and proceed to Entebbe for your flight back home laden with memories of Africa to last you a life time. Lunch en route |